The Diary of a Drug Fiend.
New York, Dutton / London Publishers, 1923. First US Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. [iv] + 368pp. Original black cloth lettered in red. The first American edition of Crowley's famous novel dealing with the subject of heroin and cocaine addiction and its possible rehabilitation. One of the characters - King Lamus - is clearly a romantic self-portrait by Crowley, and Lamus's "Abbey of Thelema" at Telepylus an idealised version of his own Abbey at Cefalu. "The London Publishers" stamped at base of spine in red (as always) and Dutton as the publisher on the title-page. A fairly typical copy of a book that is seldom seen in good condition. It has been rebacked, with the original backstrip laid down. Thin slivers of original cloth missing from head and tail of spine (although this is not that obvious as it is laid down over new cloth). Boards rubbed and chipped at corners, endpapers rehinged. Edges of text block darkened, two leaves have old paper repairs to fore-edge margins. Overall a solid G only copy in a "home-made" but quite good FACSIMILE of the rare dust jacket (the dust jacket has been "aged" to match the condition of the book). Item #69558
Price: $500.00